Wests Tigers found their feet after a mid-season stumble to sneak back into the top eight with a 26-18 win over a stubborn Penrith at Campbelltown Stadium.

Having dropped to ninth on the back of three consecutive losses, the Tigers leapfrogged the Warriors into eighth spot as they ran out five tries to three winners.

But they were hardly convincing against a Penrith side which had spent a week engulfed in turmoil, the Tigers recovering from 18-14 down with two late tries to Ben Murdoch-Masila and Chris Heighington.

The late double took the heat out of a controversial try to Penrith number seven Luke Walsh on the hour, when Tim Moltzen - who showed more intent to argue with the referee than tackle Walsh - appeared to be taken out by Shane Shackleton in the lead-up.

Back after missing last week's loss to Canterbury due to a concussion suffered in State of Origin III, Robbie Farah took just five minutes to leave his mark as he burrowed over from dummy-half.

His opposite number Kevin Kingston answered in kind to lock it up at at six-all before Liam Fulton and Josh Mansour scored for either side as the Panthers appeared headed for a surprise 12-10 lead at the break.

Rookie Curtis Sironen then delivered a deft ball for Chris Lawrence to run 30 metres untouched, the news getting better for the home side when Keith Galloway returned for the second period after going off with a shoulder injury.

Twice Michael Jennings made long scything runs to get Penrith into decent attacking position, the visitors showing their intention to go for broke as they ignored a gift two points via a penalty goal.

It almost paid dividends only for Moltzen - who earlier gifted Mansour's try when he dropped a simple bomb - to knock the ball out of Luke Lewis' hands as he reached out to score.

But he quickly went from hero to villain with Walsh's try, although another obstruction controversy lessened when Murdoch-Masila crashed over 17 metres from time.

Wests Tigers recorded a hard fought 26-18 victory over Penrith Panthers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium tonight in round 19 of the Telstra Premiership.

In front of a crowd of only 12,384, Wests Tigers took a two point lead into half-time before storming home late to claim the much needed two competition points and end a three game losing streak. The win moves Wests Tigers into eighth spot.

Wests Tigers opened the scoring in the third minute when hooker and captain Robbie Farah burrowed his way over from dummy half to score under the posts. It came after half-back Benji Marshall was tackled short of the line after beating several defenders. Marshall converted the try for a 6-0 lead.

The Panthers opened their account in the 12th minute when hooker Kevin Kingston found open space in an acrossfield run to score out wide. Half-back Luke Walsh converted the try for a 6-all scoreline.

Wests Tigers took a 10-6 lead in the 26th minute when second-rower Liam Fulton strolled through a gap off a short pass by Marshall. The half-back failed to convert the try from close range.

Three minutes later, a bomb by Walsh was spilt by full-back Tim Moltzen. The ball popped into the arms of five-eighth Travis Burns who sent it on to centre Michael Jennings to put Mansour over in corner. Walsh converted the try to give Penrith a 12-10 lead after 30 minutes.

Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway left the field in the 37th minute with a shoulder injury.

A minute later, a short inside pass by five-eighth Curtis Sironen saw Wests Tigers centre Chris Lawrence race 30 metres to beat the full-back to score out wide for a 14-12 lead. Marshall failed to convert the try.

2nd Half
Galloway returned for the second half.

The video referee was called on in the 57th minute to determine whether Penrith lock Luke Lewis had scored after stretching his right arm out. It was ruled full-back Tim Moltzen had knocked the ball clear with his arm only for Wests Tigers to be ruled offside.

Three minutes later and following a weight of possession, Walsh ran through an open gap to score in what looked like a decoy run. Video replays showed prop Junior Moors slipped over in defence to create the hole. Walsh converted his own try for an 18-14 lead to Penrith.

Marshall then got Wests Tigers level again at 18-all when he ran to the line before turning a pass inside for second-rower Ben Murdoch-Masila to crash through three defenders to score. Marshall converted the try for a 20-18 lead after 64 minutes.

Three minutes from full-time, Wests Tigers lock Chris Heighington sealed victory when he raced 38 metres and produced a big step off his left foot to score under the posts to be swamped by excited team-mates. Marshall converted the try for the 26-18 scoreline.

the team is not setting the world on fire , its cold , people dont have loads of cash , leichhardt oval to cambo area a long drive , just a few things that dont help the crowd numbers , 12000 is still okay 15 000 would be nice